Collapsible tubular container



July 4, 1939. F. P.-scHMn T I I COLLAPSIBLE TUBULAR cONTAINER Filed May 19, 1958 Flausoelcu INVENTOR PAUL ScHM/ T a ATTORNEYS Patented July 4, 1939 PATENT OFFICE COLLAPSIBLE TUBULAR CONTAINER Friedrich Paul Schmidt, Suhl, Germany Application May 19, 1938, Serial No. 208,747 In Germany August 24, 1937 10 Claims.

This invention relates to collapsible tubular containers, such as are employed for containing pastes, creams and other pharmaceutical. cosmetics and like products.

8 In the production of tubes of this character it has already been proposed to produce the body of the tube by the drawing of metal or by the winding or rolling of metal foil. The latter method necessitates the application of a separate l cap or top having a threaded neck.

It is a tube of this latter type with which the invention is concerned, and in its general outline the invention accordingly comprises a collapsible tubular container having a separately ll fitted cap or top, the body of the said container being produced from wound metal foil and being connected by a folded portion with a cap or top composed of metal, which for the purpose of forming the connecting fold is furnished with so a projectory portion or flange at a suitable distance from the edge".

The wound body of the tube may comprise one or more layers; the outer layer preferably consisting of a metal foil ln which there is provided- 25 an inner layer composed of impregnated paper or a synthetic material. This inner layer is produced separately. In the case of a multilayer tube the inner layer of paper or the like is preferably made shorter than the outer metal- 30 11c layer at the lower end of the tube, which is sealed in the conventional manner by folding over the end of the body portion on to itself,

in order to facilitate the folding operation. At

, the-top end of the tube" the outer metallic layer 35 may extend up to the connecting flange, whilst the paper lining will be passed below the'shoulder of the cap up to the upper edge of the aperture in the threaded neck. If desired, both layers may extend up to the aperture in the neck. 0 The wound body of the tube is preliminarily formed by pressing prior to its connection to the cap or top, so that a form results approximately corresponding to the cap and having a marginal flange serving to produce the folded connection. To enable the body of thetube, and more'particularly the points of the seam, to be firmly connected to the cap or top by means of the folded connection, the wound vfoil may be furnished on one or both sides with a coating of lacquer or varnish which, treated with a suitable solvent, also serves at the sametime for ilrmly connecting the layers of the tube. The inner longitudinal edge of the wound toll is likewise coated with lacquer or vamish; The

outer longitudinal edge is bevelled, for example in a rolling operation. This may consist of uncoated metal if this should appear desirable, particularly when using uncoated foils, for the application 015 an adhesive.

The invention is illustrated by way of example 5 in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 shows a piece of foil, including a section employed for producing the body of a tube.

Fig. 2 illustrates on enlarged scale a crosssection through a piece of foil such. as shown in Fig. 1, having a coating of lacquer or.varnish.

Fig. 3 illustrates diagrammatically a tube having a separately produced c'apor top prior to completion of the folded connection with the multi-layer body of the tube.

Fig. 4 shows diagrammatically a part of a tube, in which the bodyportion extends up to the opening in the threaded neck, .before the production of the folded connection.

Fig. 5 is a similar view to Fig. 4 after the fold- 2o ed connection has been produced.

Fig. 6 shows diagrammatically a multi-layer tube having a separately fitted cap or top, in which the outer metal foil extends only up to the connecting flange. g Fig. 7 is a diagrammatical view of the top of a tube, wherein the flange on the top is fitted over a corresponding flange on the body of the tube.

Fig. 8 illustrates the embodiment according to Fig. 7 after completion of the folded connection.

Figs. 4, 5, 7, and 8 show in each case,only one-half of the upper end of the tube in crosssection.

Referring now to the drawing, I is a length of metal foil, from which the body of a tube is produced. For this purpose there isemployed the section 2, which may be furnished with a coating of lacquer or varnish 3, the-latter also covering the longitudinal edge 4, which after 40 the folding or winding lies against the inner wall of the tube. The contents of the tube are thus protected against contact of any kind with. the

metal. The section 2 is wound'or bent in the y direction of-the arrow 5. The longitudinal edge 6 on the outside of the wound tube may be reduced in thickness, for example by a rolling operation, in order to obtain a better adaptation to the outer wall. The complete thickness of the wall is indicated in Fig. 2 by the dash-dotted line. The wound body of the tube is connected to the cap or top by a folded connection, diiferent methods of production and embodiments of which are illustrated Figs. 3 to 8. .55

The cap or top I comprises a threaded neck I, which merges into a shoulder 9, and a projectory portion or flange I0. The top I is made of metal, preferably of aluminum, and is preferably lacquered or varnished on both sides prior to the connection with the body of the tube. The flange I0 is provided at a distance from the edge II of the top I corresponding to the size and position of the flange. About the flat edge l2 thus produced there is provided a packing I 3, and against the latter, as shown in Fig. 3, there bears the edge of the body of the tube, this body comprising an outer thickness l4 composed of aluminum and a paper lining I5.

The tube is sealed inthe known fashion at the bottom by folding over the end. The lining I5 is somewhat shorterthan the outer thickness ll in order to facilitate this folding of the end.

To connect the body I, I5 with the top I of the tube the flange I0 is pressed downwards and outwards towards the marginal zone I! of the top, the packing l3, which may consist of paper, rubber, gutta percha or the like, being pressed between the fold and thus preventing the outer edge of the top from cutting into the body of the tube. The folded layers of the outer thickness I4 for sealing the tube at the bottom are designated l6.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 4 the body I4 of the tube consists only of metal foil. A marginal flange I1 is produced on the same in-.a

pressing operation after the body has been formed, the end of the tube adapted to receive the top 'I being shaped at the same time to correspond to the top. To this tubular member there is then applied the aluminum top I, and the flange I0 is folded outwards over the inwardly folded flange II to produce the folded connection according to Fig. 5.

According to Fig. 6, the outer layer ll of the tube extends only to the flange in on the cap or top I,,whilst the lining I5 is formed as in Fig. 4 and extends up to the aperture in the neck 8.

In Fig. 7 the outerlayer ll possesses a flange I8 arranged at a distance from the edge of the top and corresponding in its dimensions approximately to those of the flange ill on the top 'I. To connect the top and the body of the tube the top is fitted over the flange I8, whereupon the flange I0 together with the flange II is pressed downwards andoutwards'as indicated in Fig. 8.

The production of the tube takes place, for example, in such fashion that the lacquered or varnished section of foil 2 is furriished with a solvent and rolled, whereby the layers of which the tube is composed are intimately connected in such a manner that the marginal flange I0, l2, III, II or l0, l8 can be produced without danger of the layers of material tending to separate at the seam. A particularly suitable adhesive for securing the outer edge 6 comprises latex with an addition of casein. In using this adhesive the reduced edge I9 of the tube is left blank.

Tubes made in accordance with the above may consist, for example, of aluminum foil or also of any other foils or other materials. It is particularly suitable to combine an outer aluminum foil M with a lining consisting of paper, a fllm of synthetic resin or the like. In this way there is obtained proper adaptation to the body of the tube, and it is also ensured that the material will not be attacked by the contents of the tube. The foil can be provided with a coating of lacquer or varnish at the outset, which remains throughout the production of the complete tube.-

There may also be employed colourless varnishes or varnishes serving as a base for printed matter. The wound member is caused to adhere by treating the lacquer or varnish with a corresponding solvent. 7

The flange for connecting the top or cap I composed of a metal, such as aluminum, tin, zinc. or the like, with the body II, or II, ii of the tube 'reinforces the shoulder portion of the tube without causing obstruction to the fitting of the tube in the filling apparatus. By reason of the folded connection as described a cutting of the'shoulder portion into the body of the tube is avoided, even whenthe tube is pressed to expel the contents.

The body of the tube can be produced, for example, from aluminum foil of desired thickness. There may be employed, for example, foils of 9 1 mm. in. thickness, which possess in themselves the requisite stiffness, so that one layer is suflicient to withstand the internal pressure concerned. In this embodiment it is preferable to employ a plain metal seam I9 with an adhesive having a latex base, which is highly elastic and capable of withstanding hot water and is also odourless. An overlapping of 1 to 3 cm. is sufficient. The body of the tube, and also the shoulder plate I, may be furnished at the outset with embossed characters, for example for advertising purposes, The flange III on the cap is determined in its position on the shoulder 9 by the desired position of the folded connection. An essential feature is the folding of the flange towards the outside. I

In the embodiment according to Fig. 6 there is obtained a considerable saving of metal foil without limitation of the possibility of use, as the inner layers of paper or synthetic resin form a throughgoing lining. At the upper edge of the neck 8 the layer of foil terminating there may be united with the inner wall of the neck in a pressing operation. For particularly reinforced embodiments it is possible to pass not only the layer I4 but also the layer l5 up to the upper edge of the aperture in the neck 8.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 3 the coating of lacquer or varnish above referred to protects the top or cap of the tube against attack on the part of the contents of the tube.

The tubes can be wound or rolled on a machine and the top is united withthe body in a press, in which connection the single operations can be carried out with combined tools, a revolving heador the like.

The invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described. The form of the shoulder portion I, the material of the layers ll, l5 and the sealing of the tube at I6 can be varied as desired dependent on the particular use. Detachment of the top or cap I is impossible, and in the embodiments according to Figs. 4 to 8 there is no seam between the top 'I and the body of the tube, as at least one of the layers passes below the shoulder portion up to the aperture in the neck. I

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a collapsible tubular container, a tube body composed of a plurality of layers, a metal top having an outlet aperture for the container, and a flange. on the said top spaced from the edge of the top to establish a folded connection with the said body, the inside layer of the said body being extended up to the said outlet aperture.

. body comprising a plurality of layers, a metal top, and a flange on the said top spaced from the edge of the top and pressed outwards and downwards to establish a folded connection with the said-body, the innermost layer at the bottom end of the tube body being shorter than the remaining layers.

4. In a collapsible tubular container, a tube body composed of metal foil, a metal top, a flange on the said body pressed downwards and inwards, and a flange on the said top spaced from the edge of the top and pressed downwards and outwards to produce a folded connection withthe said first flange.

5. In a collapsibletubular container, a tube body composed of metal foil, a metal top, aflange on the said body, and a flange on the said top fitting over the said first flange, the said flangesbeing pressed downwards and outwards to establish a folded. connection between the said top and the said body.

6. In a collapsible tubular container, a tube body composed of a plurality of layers, a metal top, a flange on the said top pressed downwards and outwards to establish a folded connection betweenthe said top and the said body, and a protective coating on the said body, the said coat-, ing also acting as adhesive to connect the said layers.

'7. In a collapsible tubular container, a tube body composed of metal foil rolled about the longitudinal axis of the container, a metal top, a.

flange on the said top pressed downwards and outwards to establish a folded connection between the said top and the said body, and a marginal zone of reduced thickness along the one edge of the said foil forming the outer longitudinally disposed seam of the said body, the inner seamof the said body being furnished with a. coating of varnish.

8. In a collapsible tubular container, a tube body composed of metal foil rolled about the iongitudinal axis of the container, a metal top, and a flange on the said top pressed downwards and outwards to establish a folded connection betwen the said top and the said body, the marginal zone along the one edge of the said foil form ing the inner longitudinally disposed seam of the said body being furnished with a coating of varnish and the edge ofl the said foil forming the outer longitudinally disposed seam of'the said body being uncoated.

9. In a. collapsible tubular container, a wound tube body consisting of metal foil windings, adhesive layers interconnecting said windings, and

a tube top consistingof a separate piece of a body consisting of metal foil and having a lining consisting of impregnated paper, and a tube top consisting of a separate piece of metal and comprising a neck and a shoulder surrounding said neck and having a flange spaced from the edge of the shoulder and situated upon the upper surface thereof, an end of said tube body extending up to said flange, said flange being adapted to be pressed outwardly and downwardly against anedge portion of said shoulder to establish a folded connection with said body.

FRIEDRICH PAUL SCHMIDT. 

